Sighting apparatus



April 10, 1934. F. c. YATES 1,954,509

SIGHTING APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l u u", I nu, u "nu/L INVEN TOR. Fredemck (LYates.

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p 10, 1934. F 1 YATES 1,954,509

SIGHTIRG APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Frederick C. Yates Byy kg Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATE FFiQE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to. amusement apparatus, and more particularly to a target practice device having a bulls-eye target adapted to be moved into the line of sight of a stationary simulated firearm or other projectile throwing weapon.

One object of this invention is to provide a device of the above nature in which a target memher is carried on one end of a swinging arm pivotally supported on a transversely slidable frame,

said arm and frame being adapted for independent positioning by a suitable mechanism located within easy reach of the marksman.

A further object is to provide a device of the above nature in which the accuracy of aim will be indicated by means of suitable indicia in the direct line of aim of the weapon, becoming visible upon the face of said target when said weapon is discharged.

A. further object is to provide a target game of the nature set forth, in which the movable target may be provided with a variety of suitable designs to represent some of the popular competitive games, such as bowling, pool, clock-golf, baseball, etc., by means of which a score relative to the game being played may result, and thus add interest to the target practice game.

A further object is to provide a target game of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and manipulate, capable of great variety, and very interesting to play.

With these and other objects in View, there have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings several forms in whieh the invention may be conveniently embodied inpractice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a target booth and gun stand, parts of said booth being broken away to show the interior construction 49 and arrangement.

Fig. 2 is a modified form of target, having fifteen indicated circles arranged with their centers on a circular line surrounding and concentrio with the rings of a bulls-eye target, and numbered to represent the balls employed in a game of pool.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the preferred form of simulated rifle employed in t the target practice game.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the upper part of the target booth, showing the arrangement of the light box.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail perspective View of one end of the target operationg handle bar.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same.

Fig. '7 is a detail perspective view of the lightbox adjustment bracket shown separately from the target booth.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing a modified form of light-box.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 inicates in general a target booth consisting of a cover-hood 11, a back-stop 12 and a base 13. The booth 10 is preferably mounted on a ground frame or platform 14- havim an integral forwardly extending arm 15, upon the front end of which is permanently mounted a gun standard 16. This construction assures at all times a direct bead or aim, of a simulated gun 17 in relation to some point located in the target booth 10 regardless of whether said booth 10 or the gun standard 16 becomes accidentally jarred or moved about.

Gun mechanism The gun 1'7, as shown in Fig. 3, is constructed to simulate the usual form of a rifle comprising a tubular barrel 18, a trigger mechanism housing 19, and a gun stock 20. Located underneath the barrel 18, and parallel thereto, is an elongated rod 21, having its rear end riveted to the trigger housing and its front end supported by a hanger block 22 attached to the underside of said barrel 18. Slidably supported upon the rod 21 is a tubular handle 23 having fixedly encased therein a sleeve bushing 24, said handle being free to move axially upon said rod 21. The handle 23 is adapted to be manually retracted against the thrust of a helical compression spring 25 sur-' rounding the rod 21 and abutted between the trigger housing 19 and said handle 23.

In order to cook the gun 17 before firing, the rear end of the handle 23 is provided with an upright catch lug 25 which, as shown in Fig. 3, may preferably be formed integral with the sleeve bushing 24, and is adapted to extend up into the barrel 18 through an elongated slot 27 provided therein. When the handle 23 is retracted, the lug 26 will engage and be restrained by a latch member 29, integral with the forward end of a rocking lever 29, suitably pivoted within the barrel 18. The forward end of said lever 29 is resiliently pressed downward at all times by a leaf spring 30 secured to the upper interior surface of the barrel, as by rivets 31. The rear of the lever 29 extends into the trigger housing 19 and is provided with an integral enlarged head 32 upon its inner extremity.

For the purpose of tripping the lever 29 and firing the gun 17, a trigger 33 is pivotally mounted upon a cross-shaft 34 supported in the trigger housing 19. The trigger 33, having the usual finger grip 35 extending outside the housing 19, is provided with a curved arm 36, to the end of which is integrally secured a hammer head 37. The trigger 33 is tensioned by means of a leaf spring 38, the outer free end of which is curved and resiliently pressed up against the underside of the arm 36, while the other end of the spring is held secure by three staggered lugs 89. By means of this construction, when the trigger finger 35 is pulled, the hammer head 37 will strike against the enlarged head 32, causing the lever 29 to trip and release the sliding handle 23, which under the thrust of the compression spring 25, will rapidly slide in a forward direction on the rod 21 to its position as shown in Fig. 3.

If desired, the gun 17 may be given a more natural effect of realism by having a slight explosion occur when the trigger is pulled. This may be accomplished by means of a hammer 40 secured to the forward end of the sliding handle 23 and adapted to extend upwardly into the barrel through the slot 27. When the handle 23 is released by the action of the trigger 33, the harnmer 40 will strike against an explosive cap 41, such as used in toy pistols. The cap 41 is held in an inclined position in the slotted head 42 of a tubular shell 43, detachably fitted into the muzzle end of the barrel 18, and said cap may be dropped into its exploding position through a beveled slot 44 provided in the upper part of the barrel 18 in cooperating alinement with said slotted head 42. Blank cartridges or gongs may also be usedfor the above purpose.

The exploding position of the cap 41 is preferably well toward the muzzle end of the gun 17 so that there will be no hazard to the operator from flying products of the explosion.

In order to provide means for aiming the gun, a fore-sight 45 is detachably mounted at the muzzle end of the barrel 18. The fore-sight comprises a small sighting ball or bead 46 integrally formed on the top of a cylindrical shank 47 fitted into the upper part of said barrel 18. The shank 47 is provided with a reduced section 48 fitted into the lower part of said barrel l8, and said shank 47 serves to hold the encased tubular shell 43 in place.

The rear sight 49 is in the form of a small angle member attached to the top of the trigger housing 19, the upright leg of said member having a V or U-shaped sighting slot 59 formed therein, the base of said slot being in alinement with the small bead 46 of the fore-sight 45.

The gun 17 is adapted to be rigidly supported in a grooved block 51 integral with the top of a vertical post 52, said post being securely imbedded within the gun standard 16 against rotative or other motion, relative to the arm 15 or the platform 14. While the weapon simulated in the foregoing description is shown as a rifle such as ordinarily used in present day target practice, it will readily be understood that similar principles may be applied to a device simulating .a crossbow, catapult or any ballistic weapon.

Light boac The gun sight, as shown by the dot-and-dash line 53 in Figs. 1 and 3, is in direct alinement with a small aperture 54 formed in the face 55 of a light box 56, which is supported by means of an adjusting bracket 57 secured to the backstop 12 by a pair of bolts 58 fitted through elongated slots 59 in said back-stop (see Fig. 4). The light box is provided with a hinged cover or lid 69 having an upwardly inclined arm 61 riveted or otherwise secured to the hinged edge of said lid, and said arm is adapted to extend rearwardly through a slot 62 formed in the back-stop 12. A cord 63 is secured to the extremity of this lever 61 and extends downwardly around a guide pulley 64 and thence forwardly through an opening 65 and in an upwardly inclined direction to the forward end of the sliding handle 23. The cord 63 may be fastened to said handle 23 by means of a small lug 66 depending from and integral with the hammer 40, as shown in Fig. 3.

Any suitable lighting means such as an incandescent lamp 67 may be mounted within the box 56. The light emanating from said lamp may be generally diifused around the upper section of the box 56 by means of a curved reflector member 68 suitably mounted therein. The aperture 54 is adapted to be-opened and closed by a shutter 69 slidably mounted upon the rear side of the light-box face 55. The shutter is provided with an orifice 70 which, aligning at a predetermined time with the aperture 54, allows a spot of light to pass through said aperture.

In order to interrupt the light spot, the shutter 69 is adapted to be vertically raised in a guide frame 71 by a short cord 72, one end of which is connected to the upper part of said shutter, while the other end is attached to the underside of the lid 60, as for example by the small screw-eye 73. 110 The cord 72 is preferably guided over a small rod 74 spanning the upper part of the box 56, so that only a vertical pull may be exerted upon the shutter 69.

In order to properly aline the box 56 so that 115 the aperture 54 will lie directly in line of the gun-sight 53, the adjusting bracket 57 is provided with an integral forwardly extending supporting base 75, upon which said box 56 is supported. The supporting base is formed with an elongated center slot 76 and a pair of upright end ribs 77 and 78. Threadedly engaged within said ribs is a pair of transverse set screws 79 and 30 having their inner ends abutted against the side walls of the box 56.

Obviously from this construction the light box 56 may be horizontally adjusted in either direction transversely to the line of sight by the proper manipulation of said set screws 79 and 80. When so adjusted, the light box 56 may be locked in adjusted position by means of a bolt 81 attached to the base of said light box and slidably fitted through the elongated slot 76.

For the purpose of vertically adjusting the light box 56, the lower end of the adjusting 135 bracket has a lateral lug 82 integral therewith, against the underside of which is abutted the end of a set screw 33. The set screw 88 is vertically threaded within another lug 84 integral with the back stop 12, and by manipulating said screw 83 the light box may be adjusted to the required vertical position. The adjustment of the light box 56 so that the aperture 54 falls exactly on the line of the gun sight 53 may be readily checked by removing the fore-sight 45 and passing a string or cord from the sighting slot 56 to the aperture 54.

In order to utilize the light source 67 for illuminating the booth 10 and the front of a target 87 when taking aim, the front of the E hood 11. is providedi with.a downwardly inclined;

cowl 85, the underside of which may beiprovided with. a reflecting: mirror. 86; so that. when. the cover lidE'605is open,.the' rays of light: from. the bulb 672 an'dfthei reflector 68. will:.fall' upon the mirror86 and. be. diffusedthroughout the booth. If desired; a coin slot8'6a may be provided for controlling" mechanism, not shown, which will.

automatically shut offthe source of light behind the" target after a predetermined number of shots have. been taken;

Movable target The movabletarget member 87, carried on the end of a swinging lever. 88; is adapted to pass across'the face'55ofthelight box'56. The target member comprises'an annular metal retaining rim.

89 having stretched thereon. and clamped, cementedor. otherwise attachedthereto, a target diaphragm: 87a with: the usual form of zoned bullfs-eye or other suitable design imprinted thereon. The diaphragm is preferably made of a translucent material, .suchas thin-fabric, parchment or oiled paper, which render visible'from thefrontaspot of light directed'upon the rearward: surface thereof.

The target. lever 88 is pivotally fulcrumed upon a. pivot stud 90 carried at the'upper end of an uprightstandardQl (see Fig. 1), integral with a base plate: 92. which is adapted to be' slidably mounted upon: a pair of transversely disposed guide rods-93and 94. The ends of said rods are supported in a pair of ribs 95 and 96 formed integral .withthe base 13; An adjustable bifurcated guidemember '97serves to take up side play in the target arm=88 and to maintain the target member 87 inclose proximitytothe face 55 of the light box 56;

Horizontal movement of. the target 8'7 in either direction transversely to theline of sight 53 1s eifected bymeans ofa pair of horizontal bars 160 and 101 having their inner ends diametrically joined to a common hub 102. As shown in Fig. 6 the hub1 02 is pivotally journalled on a vertical axisto the supporting. post 52 and rests upon a shouldered boss 103 formed integral with said post. Fig: 1, is providedwith a lug l04-to which is attached a cord 105;

The cord-105 is led toward the booth l and guided around asuitable pulley 106 and connected to one side of the-sliding base plate 92; The rod 180 has a detachable handle ball 107 provided with a depending lug 108 to which is attached a corresponding cord 109. This cord is ledtoward the booth lo and guided around a suitable pulley 110 and connectedto the baseplate 92 on the side opposite to the cord 105.

Vertical. movement of the target 87 is accomplished by means of an additional cord 111 guided around a pulley 112 pivotally attached to the base plate 92. One end of this cord 111 is attached tothe target lever 88, and the other end is led to the lower extremity of a vertical swinging arm 113 dependent from and attached to a horizontal sleeve 114 rotatable on the bar 100. The arm 113 is adapted to be manually operated by means of a depending handle 115, preferably made integral with the outer end of said sleeve member 114.

In order to resist vertical displacement of the target due to its weight, there is provided a locking mechanism shown in detail in Figs. and 6. A sector block 116, rigidly secured upon the re- .duced threaded extremity 100a of the bar 100 by The'freeend. of the bar 101, as viewed in means ofi the handleba'll 107, provides an engaging surface fora brake-shoe 117 attached to anarcuatebrake block.118. The brake shoe 117 isadapted tobe'normally held initight frictional releasablecontactwith the periphery o-fthe sector. block 116;

For the purpose of releasingthe brakingmeche anismfor. operating the vertical sighting handle 1 15', thebrake blockisconnectedto the upper endiof a. releasing handle .119, suitably fulcrumed to .a small lateral lug .lZOintegraLWith the sleeve member 114. The lower end of the releasing handle is provided. with aknurledv curved gripping. section121, which is adapted to extend downwardly in close proximity'to the handle 115. The underside of. the section. 121 has a strong leaf spring'l22 riveted theretoand resiliently pressed.

against said handle 115 for normally exerting. outward pressurev uponsaid sectionl21, thus clamping the brake shoe. 117 tothe sector block 116. The brake is readilyreleasedby manually pressing the handle section .121 toward the'handle 115 against the force ofithe spring member 122 during the sighting. operation.

Operation In the operation of the target practice apparatus, the operator. will first. cook the gun by pulling. back on the handle 23 untillit latches. This causesthe booth l0 and. the front surface ofthe target to be illuminated and thelight'within the box to be cut on" from theaperture 54. The operator will then move the target 8'7 in front of the box'56-by the manipulation of theball handle and the depending handle115, the object of the game being to positionthe'center. 0f the bulls-eye target. indirect alinement withtheline of eight 53. Withthe target adjusted according to the best ofihis ability; the: operator will then .pull the trigger'35, simultaneously causing the blank cap 41 tobe exploded; thelight in the. booth to be extinguished, and accncentrated point oflight'to appear. on the. surface of the translucent target diaphragm to indicate the accuracy ofthe shot.

Fig. 2. illustrates a modified? design of target face which may be substituted for the ZO'tlGd bulls-eye'shown inFig 1, inorder toaddinterest to tl'ie target practice. The target face 123 is similar to the target diaphragm 87a; except that the bulls-eye: 124 imprinted upon the translucent. surface is' reduced in size and is surrounded by a series of minor or secondary targets in: the form of. concentric circles 126 symmetrically disposed withxtheir centers lying on a circle concentric with the circle forming the bulls-eye. Theiouter circles 126 represent the balls asused in the game of pool, and the ball numbers are designated by numerals 127 numbered from 1 to and disposed in irregular sequence around the target, as clearly shown in *5:

Fig. 2. The circles 126 representing the balls will be preferably colored according to the regulation pool table set in order to render conspicuone the bulls-eye of the ball and the spot to be aimed at for scoring. It will be apparent from this arrangement that a score may result similar to that of shooting pool. It will also be apparent that the target arrangement may be so constructed as to represent other popular games, such as bowling, clock golf, baseball, etc.

In the modified form of light-box shown in Fig. 8 the construction is in many respects similar to that shown in Fig. 4 except for the lighting system to be hereinafter explained. The light box 56 is provided with a removable cover lid 128 instead of the hinged cover lid 60 as in Fig. 4. A single light bulb 129 is secured within the box in direct alinement with the aperture 54 by means of a socket 130. A concave reflector 131 may be disposed behind the bulb 129 in such a position as to cause an intense light to shine through the aperture 54.

The booth 10 and exterior of the light box in the modified form may be illuminated by means of a single bulb or preferably a group of bulbs 132 suitably spaced beneath the cowl of the hood 11.

The incandescent lamps 129 and 132 are adapted to be alternatively energized through a double-throw switch mechanism 133 located on a panel 134 attached to the rear of the back-stop 12. The switch mechanism 133 comprises a pair of stationary contact members 135 and 136 and a movable contact member 137 adapted to be oscillated between said stationary contacts for alternatively completing the circuits through the lights 129 and 132 by electric conductors 138 and 139 respectively. The movable contact 137 is carried upon the end of a 'switch lever 140 and is connected to one side of an electric power supply by a conductor 141. This lever is pivotally attached to the panel 134 and adapted to be oscillated throughout its range of travel by the cord 63 which is connected to the mechanism of the rifle 1'? in a manner explained above,

the tension of the cord being opposed by a spring 142 fixed at one end to the panel 134 and disposed in a manner clearly shown in Fig. 8. The arrangement of electrical circuits connecting one side of the power source through the doublethrow switch and its respective contacts and the lamps 129 and 132 to the other side of the power source is clearly shown in Fig. 8. It is obvious from this construction and arrangement that when the gun 1'7 is cocked by retracting the handle 23, the light 129 in the box 56 will be extinguished and the light group 132 energized. When the gun is discharged, the alternative condition is brought about, the external lights 132 being extinguished and the lamp 129 within the box illuminated, producing a concentrated light through the translucent target from the rear locating the line of sight and indicating the accuracy of the aim.

If desired, the platform 14 may be placed on an adjustable table or other support for permitting the use of the apparatus in a standing position. Moreover, the gun standard 16 may be mounted separately from the remainder of the apparatus.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 8, the hood 11 is formed with an upward inverted U-shaped section 145 for permitting the target 87 to be swung in a greater arc than usual, if it is found necessary due to the location of the light box 56 or the size of the target.

While there have been disclosed in this specification several forms in which the invention may be embodied it is to be understood that these forms are shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosures, but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fullydescribed the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a target practice game apparatus, the combination of a stationary weapon simulating member, a booth fixed relatively thereto and containing a light box and a movable target, said light box having an aperture in alinement with the sights of said weapon simulating member, a light source adapted to illuminate said aperture from the rear, an alternative light source adapted to illuminate said booth and the face of said target, means for positioning said target both vertically and horizontally in juxtaposition to the face of said light box between said weapon simulating member and said aperture, indicia upon said target adapted to be made conspicuous by illumination from said aperture, thus furnishing an indication of the operators marksmanship.

2. In a target practice game apparatus, the combination with a stationary sighting instrument, a movable translucent target, means for positioning said target horizontally under the control or" the operator, a light box having an aperture in line with the sight of said sighting instrument, a normally ineifective source of concentrated illumination upon the rear face of said box, and means to render said source 01' concentrated illumination efiective after the instrument has been aimed, thus furnishing an indication of the operators skill.

3. In a target practice game apparatus, the

combination of a stationary weapon simulating member, a booth fixed relatively thereto and containing a light box and a movable target, said light box having an aperture in alinement with the sights of said weapon simulating member, a

light source adapted to illuminate said aperture 7 from the rear, means for positioning said target both vertically and horizontally in juxtaposition to the face of said light box between said weapon simulating member and said aperture, indicia upon said target adapted to be made conspicuous by illumination from said aperture, thus furnishing an indication of the operators marksmanship.

FREDERICK C. YATES.

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